THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 190, 31 December 1912, Page 5

THE EMPIRE.

A REMARKABLE ARTICLE. A JOURNALISTIC FORECAST. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. ; London, December 2!). Mr. Frederic Harrison, in a remarkable. article in the English Review, predicts that the whole international system will be recast in 1013. The peril lies in the German desire for expansion. Ninety per cent, of the German desire peace, if German interests are not affected. The Kaiser is honestly doing his best to remove his neighbour's apprehensions, until crisis compels him to speak. Meanwhile the predominant ten per cent., bred for war. are pushing their countrymen on a course of which war is the almost inevitable consequence. Mr. Harrison contends that. Turkey's collapse and the aggrandisement of the Balkaji Kingdoms is a fatal setback for Pan-German ideals. Notiiing outside Europe is now open to Germany, but Europe is open, and it is inevitable that Germany will seek expansion there. England's peril must be met- by a predominant fleet. An immense and continuous naval increase is a matter of life and death to her. Mi'. Harrison advocates a' war loan of 150 millions, of which 100 millions should forthwith be spent on the navv and 50 millions on the army. It is essential, he considers, to concentrate our Empire, and to give uj) the Mediterranean, even Gibraltar, but certainly Egypt and the African Empire to the southward.